Springfield Cardinals Take Third Straight Win In Northwest Arkansas

The Springfield Cardinals took their third straight game with a 4-3 win against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals before 4,907 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night. CF Charlie Tilson, in just his third Double-A game, helped lead the lineup with a 3-for-5 night, including two doubles and two RBIs.

The Cardinals (14-20, 48-56) seized the early advantage against RHP Andy Ferguson (L, 7-9) in the top of the first inning. Tilson dealt his first blow with a leadoff double to start the game, before racing to third on a sacrifice bunt from LF Mike O'Neill. RF James Ramsey then placed a perfect bunt inside the third base line, bringing in Tilson from third with an RBI single for the game's first run. Ramsey promptly swiped second base, taking third next on a groundout by 1B Curt Smith. After a walk drawn by C Cody Stanley, 2B Breyvic Valera sliced a two-out RBI single to left-center, scoring Ramsey to make it 2-0.

RHP Mike Mayers (W, 2-4) kept the early lead intact through a pair of quick scoreless frames, before the Naturals (16-18, 41-63) got on the board in the bottom of the third. With one down, CF Ethan Chapman swung himself on with a double, coming in one out later on an RBI single by SS Orlando Calixte to slice the Cardinals lead to 2-1.

Northwest Arkansas completed the comeback with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. After 3B Cheslor Cuthbert led off with a double, 1B Max Ramirez drove an RBI triple into the right field corner to bring Cuthbert home. Mayers battled back with a pair of groundouts with Ramirez staying at third, but LF Justin Trapp struck with a two-out RBI single to center field, swinging the Naturals into the 4-3 lead.

Springfield didn't stay down for long, catapulting back in front in the top of the sixth inning. With one away, 3B Patrick Wisdom worked a walk to reach base. SS Alex Mejia followed with a single, before Tilson brought in both runners with a go-ahead, two-run double to left-center field. In just his third game with Springfield, Tilson's fourth and fifth RBIs on the season leapfrogged the Cardinals into the 4-3 lead.

Mayers came back out for the bottom of the sixth and retired the first two outs in the inning. After Trapp reached on an error to extend the frame, LHP Ryan Sherriff took over on the mound and quickly induced the final out in the inning.

Sherriff logged the first out in the eighth, before 1.1 scoreless innings from RHP Jeremy Berg. With one on and two down in the bottom of the eighth inning, RHP Seth Blair (S, 1) started his relief outing. The right-hander dealt 1.1 scoreless frames to close the 4-3 win for the Cardinals with his first-career save.

Lynne Roberts

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